2nd Blogoversary

Today is my 2nd Blogoversary -- it's been two years since I started posting about my sewing projects here on Blogger.

Why do I keep this blog? This is where I get to "show and tell" my sewing and needleart projects and experiences, kind of like my virtual scrapbook. It's surprising to me how many different types of sewing projects I've attempted in just the past year.

I'm not trying to teach anyone how to do anything -- I'm not accomplished enough to do that. As an experienced beginner at just about everything, I'm just trying to share what I'm working on and how I'm doing it and maybe inspire someone else or get some feedback and advice for myself. I'll continue to share links to instructions and supplies or resources when I can find them.

What's the plan for the coming year? I have a long backlog of projects I'd like to get to very soon. I've been trying my hand at quilting a little, and have 2 or 3 quilts I'd like to work on this summer, one for my bed and a couple wall/throw quilts with a Westie theme.

I'm also making a concerted effort to learn more about constructing garments. In fact, I'm currently taking an online class at PatternReview.com, Build Better Pants. I've learned several new-to-me techniques, but now I think I need to go back and take the muslin class so I can work out more precise fitting issues. In addition to pants and shorts, I have about a dozen patterns for tops, blouses and jackets I'd like to make this year.

The focus will continue to be mostly about sewing projects, including more attempts at sewing garments, machine embroidery and quilting.

I will try to post one entry per week, but will not feel guilty about not blogging when I have nothing new to show. Even if I don't have time to write, I'll post photos to Flickr.

And if I don't have an entry here, I'll probably post something over at Keli's Korner~The Westie & The Wauzer.

-June 18, 2009-213 entries-
Read my first blogoversary post here

Cool Ties for the Mahwah Marine Moms~2009 Update

Last year (Summer 2008) I made cool ties for the Mahwah Marine Moms to send to the troops in Iraq, to help them keep cool in the desert heat, especially during the summer. The Moms shipped about 500 cool ties for the troops last year.

In April, Terry contacted me about making cool ties again this year. Even though some of the Moms' sons and daughters are finishing up their active enlistment, they are continuing to collect and send care packages for the Troops. In March they shipped 94 cases and later this year they will start another town wide [Mahwah, New Jersey] Support Our Troops Care Package Project in September.

This year, their contact is Chaplain Mike, who ministers to 7 units out of Indiana who are serving all over Iraq.

A few weeks ago (mid-May), Chaplain Mike shared what the conditions are like:

The average temperature this past week, has ranged between 115 and 126. It is so hot here, the toilet water is hot, the shower/sink (on cold) is hot. If you have eye drops in your pocket and use them it feels like you are squirting hot water in your eyes. Cold, bottled, water only takes about ten minutes to get to where you are drinking hot water. When the wind blows, and it is 120+ you feel like you have a blow dryer in your eyes and your eyes dry out. We had a sand storm blow through. What a pleasant experience to have it be 110 at night, with hard blowing sand and dust hit you in the face and get into your nose, mouth and eyes. When we wear our "battle-rattle" (warfighter body armor) you can add 5 - 10 degrees to the temp.

One of the reasons I haven't posted much lately is because I have been working on making more cool ties, as many as I can crank out this summer. I've been working on a few other projects, too, but instead of posting about them, I've spent that time making cool ties. I'll catch up on the blog eventually.

Last year, the deadline for shipping was in July, because the Mom's contacts were leaving after that and they needed a contact person in order to ship packages. This year they have Chaplain Mike for a contact through the summer, so I'll try to match my effort from last year. My plan was to make 20 ties a month last summer; so far I've finished 55 (delivered 35 to Terry, 20 are ready to drop off) which keeps me on target for April, May and part of June. I just bought another 5 yards of fabric, which should yield about 50 more ties I hope to finish by August.

If you'd like to help make Cool Ties (also called Neck Coolers) or donate items for care packages for the troops, you can contact Terry by email at MahwahMarineMoms at yahoo dot com for more information. Instructions can also be downloaded from my Google site.

I've also embedded a Picasa Photo Album below showing how to make Cool Ties.

Cool Ties Instructions